hed
angrily, and with just indignation he rebuked Siebenburg for his
unseemly intrusion into his quarters and his brutal conduct.

Then, without heeding the knight, he asked Biberli if he was seriously
injured, and when the latter answered in the negative he again turned
to Seitz and briefly enquired what he wanted. If he desired to own
that, while in a state of senseless intoxication he had slandered modest
maidens, and was ignorant of his actions when he staked his castle and
lands against the gold lying before him, Heinz Schorlin, he might keep
Tannenreuth. The form in which he would revoke his calumny to Jungfrau
Ortlieb he would discuss with him later. At present his mind was
occupied with more important matters than the senseless talk of a
drunkard, and he would therefore request the knight to leave him.

As Heinz uttered the last words he pointed to the door, and this
indiscreet, anything but inviting gesture robbed Siebenburg of the last
remnant of composure maintained with so much difficulty.

Nothing is more infuriating to weak natures than to have others expect
them to pursue a course opposite to that which, after a victory over
baser impulses, they have recognised as the right one and intended to
follow. He who had come to resign his lost property voluntarily was
regarded by the Swiss as an importunate mendicant; he who stood here
to prove that he was perfectly justified in accusing Els Ortlieb of
a crime, Schorlin expected to make a revocation against his better
knowledge. And what price did the insolent fellow demand for the
restored estate and the right to brand him as a slanderer? The pleasure
of seeing the unwelcome guest retire as quickly as possible. No greater
degree of contempt and offensive presumption could be imagined, and as
Seitz set his own admirable conduct during the past few hours far
above the profligate behaviour of the Swiss, he was fired with honest
indignation and, far from heeding the white robe and altered countenance
of his enemy, gave the reins to his wrath.

Pale with fury, he flung, as it were, the estate the Swiss had won from
him at his feet, amid no lack of insulting words.

At first Heinz listened to the luckless gambler's outbreak of rage
in silent amazement, but when the latter began to threaten, and even
clapped his hand on his sword, the composure which never failed him in
the presence of anything that resembled danger quickly returned.

He had felt a strong aversio